Greenwood's FFA teams capture two state honors

View full sizeFUTURE FARMERS -- Greenwood's FFA Parliamentary Procedure Team won a state championship and will compete at the National FFA Convention. Team members Katie Barton, Grant Carlton, Rachel Beaver, Libby Baker, Sam Strong, Hannah Landis and Sam Loy pose with their state-championship plaque.

Perry County isn't known for its shopping malls and restaurants, movie theaters and arcades. Agriculture is king here. For evidence of that you need look no farther than the Greenwood FFA.

This year, Greenwood High School FFA seized two state competitions with one member elected as one of seven state FFA representatives.

In 1928, FFA -- a group of young farmers determined to prepare future generations for the challenge of feeding a growing population -- was founded to develop agriculture-related talents and interests.

Since then, it has grown to become the largest intracurricular youth organization in the world, boasting more than 500,000 members nationwide, Greenwood High School FFA Adviser Krista Pontius said.

Out of these 500,000, Greenwood's student-participants seem to shine, and their victories are well-deserved, Pontius said.

This year, after regional-level wins, Greenwood's parliamentary procedure and marketing plan teams took first place in statewide competition.

Greenwood 2014 graduate Katie Barton, a parliamentary procedure team member, said many team members have been competing for only two years.

During the parliamentary procedure competition, students conduct a mock meeting following rules set up by the book "Robert's Rules of Order."

"That's what everything is based off of," Barton said, adding that a written test on book information also is part of the competition. "There is a lot of studying out of that book."

The parliamentary team is comprised of five members -- a secretary and four delegating members. Last year, the team took second place at states, and, this year four members returned.

"We kind of knew what to expect," Barton said, explaining she was expecting a win. "It was tough, but that was our expectation going into states."

The marketing plan team, was comprised of three freshmen, but that didn't stop them from securing first place at states. "We pick a business that is local, and we come up with a whole proposal," said team member Maggie Campbell.

The proposal includes a budget, facility improvements, an advertisement and a plan to make a product that could be sold in a grocery store, Campbell said.

The team chose Choco' Latte Cafe in Millerstown. Campbell referred to it as "kind of like the hidden gem of Millerstown."

"We put a lot of time into the props," she said, explaining props included charts, edibles and an advertisement.

FFA's activities are tied into the classroom, but outside of school hours, more practice is needed, so FFA members meet three nights a week for additional instruction -- even during summer.

"In the fall, it will be a whole lot of quizzing and testing," Pontius said, explaining how the winning teams prepare for a national competition held in November.

Both Barton and Campbell were optimistic about competing on a national level.

"It will probably be a little more difficult," Barton said," but I really think we have a good chance if we can stay cool."

"Everyone can be nervous," Campbell said. "I'm kind of looking forward to it."

While others prepare for national competition, FFA member Grant Carlton, a 2014 Greenwood graduate, is going to spend this year traveling the United States as Pennsylvania's FFA chaplain, Pontius said.

"Basically his job is to represent Pennsylvania agriculture," she said, explaining Pennsylvania has only seven FFA representatives. "They will travel thousands of miles a year just promoting agriculture."

Carlton said he first became interested in the position because of the opportunity to represent agriculture in the community. During his interview, he expressed his interest in faith, so he was elected chaplain.

"I'm the only (FFA) chaplain in the entire United States," he said.

In order to serve as chaplain, Carlton put his college plans on hold, but, next year, he will attend Penn State where he will study meteorology.

Until then, he is excited about his FFA duties.

"I'm actually really excited to go to the national convention. I get to do delegate work," he said. "Everywhere I go, I'm really excited to meet new people and new businesses and just to make connections."